Football: Liverpool's ambitions thwarted by 10 men

Sheffield Wednesday 1 Liverpool 1

A 73rd-minute goal by Wednesday substitute O'Neill Donaldson was not enough to earn Wednesday a place in Europe, but sufficient to deny Liverpool the second place in the Premiership that would have put them into the European Cup.

Despite an 84th minute equaliser from Jamie Redknapp's free-kick after Wednesday's other substitute, goalkeeper Matt Clarke, had been sent off for handling the ball outside his area, Liverpool could not again find a way past stand-in keeper Andy Booth.

It was a bizarre end to a game Liverpool knew they had to win as Newcastle's goals racked up on the Hillsborough scoreboard and, as Booth denied them with boot and fist well into injury time, their failure summed up a season of frustrated achievement at Anfield.

Wednesday, too, had Europe on their mind and despite their erratic season, which began impressively but ran out of steam in the last couple of weeks, their style of play would not be out of place there.

Like Roy Evans, David Pleat believes that passing is the essence of the beautiful game, and Wednesday showed they could play keep-ball as well as Liverpool. What is more, in Benito Carbone they had the man most likely to turn possession into penetration.

The early chances came Wednesday's way, Booth heading over Ritchie Humphreys' cross, and then shooting straight at David James with only the goalkeeper to beat. Booth then sent his striking partner David Hirst clear, only for Mark Wright to make a vital tackle.

Liverpool were missing the pace of Robbie Fowler, and with Des Walker commanding at the heart of the Wednesday defence, openings were slow in coming for the visitors. Michael Owen headed Jason McAteer's cross over the bar and was then denied by a superb diving save by Kevin Pressman.

But Liverpool created the best opening of an even first half when Michael Thomas released Steve McManaman, whose first touch split the Wednesday back four, but Stan Collymore's shot was parried by Pressman and hoofed away to safety.

Collymore was replaced at half-time by John Barnes, and with McManaman pushing up alongside Owen, Liverpool began to find the penetration they had lacked. Wright could not get a free header at the far post on target and when McManaman found Owen inside the six-yard box, Pressman again beat the shot away.

A deft back-heel from Barnes then set-up McManaman for a shot from the edge of the penalty area and only a lucky deflection kept Wednesday on terms. With Liverpool now finding their rhythm, Pleat sought to disrupt it with a couple of substitutions which proved decisive.

McManaman shot over after another incisive ball from Barnes, Redknapp shot tamely at Pressman when McManaman was better placed and Owen hit a post with Pressman beaten.

Goals: Donaldson (75) 1-0; Redknapp (83) 1-1.

Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-2): Pressman (Clarke, 73); Nolan, Walker, Stefanovic, Humphreys (Oakes, 59); Whittingham, Carbone, Atherton, Pembridge; Hirst (Donaldson, 59), Booth. Substitutes not used: Blinker, Nicol.

Liverpool (4-4-2): James; Kvarme (Matteo, h/t), Wright, Ruddock (Harkness, 15), Bjornebye; McAteer, McManaman, Thomas, Redknapp; Collymore (Barnes, h/t), Owen. Substitutes not used: Warner, Carragher.

Referee: D Elleray.

Bookings: Wednesday: Pembridge (33), Carbone (85). Sending-off: Clarke (84).

Man of the match: McManaman. Attendance: 38,943.